Govt appoints ADG Panda as head of anti-Maoist operations
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Earlier, the director (intelligence) managed anti-Maoist operations.
The govt also appointed Akhileshvar Singh as DIG of special intelligence wing (SIW), a dedicated unit responsible for gathering Maoist intelligence and supporting anti-Maoist operations. Panda previously led SIW as a DIG-rank officer. Singh, formerly DIG (south-western range), exchanges posts with Kanwar Vishal Singh.
The home department's notification read, "Panda, who was ADG (training), will look after functioning of both SIW and anti-Naxal operations.
He will directly report to DGP."
"The appointment aims to further strengthen anti-Maoist operations in accordance with Union home minister Amit Shah's directive to eliminate Naxals nationwide by March 2026," a senior police officer said.
The creation of the maiden anti-Maoist chief position is particularly significant as chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi prepares to attend the Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi on Thursday, chaired by Shah.
The agenda encompasses inter-state matters and Left-wing extremism (LWE).
Officers said that Panda will conduct a thorough assessment of anti-Maoist strategies in the wake of the recent theft of about 5,000kg of gelatin sticks by Maoists from a Sundargarh district quarry on May 27. The incident created concern as Sundargarh was removed from the list of LWE-affected districts last year.
Odisha police claimed that the state's LWE situation remains in control compared to Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, where recent anti-Maoist operations resulted in casualties of a large number of rebels.
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Police sources said that while 10 districts — Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Boudh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir and Bargarh — are officially LWE-affected, three — Koraput, Rayagada and Nabarangpur — have recorded no Maoist incidents in three years.
The CM recently informed the assembly that only about 100-120 Maoists currently operate in the state. Records indicated that security forces eliminated 118 Maoists over the past decade. Between 2015 and Jan 2025, forces neutralised 118 Naxals, arrested 315 involved in Naxal activities, and facilitated 238 Maoist surrenders.
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